After our success with the tube network around London it was now time to experience the overland train system running around the rest of the country. One quick tube ride to Euston Station and then here’s where things just fell apart. Our train wasn’t displayed on the massive screens inside the station, and after a bloke at a service desk checked out our tickets he told us to hop on to an Avanti train on platform 5, the only train listed heading to our destination and at the exact same time… Only problem was that we booked with West Midlands Railway which is what we found out once we’d already boarded the train… Quickly disembarking and running back up to the big screen and information booth we were then told that we’d have to wait an hour to catch the next train, but it was also still an Avanti West Coast train. An hour rolls by and we are about to board but it’s still the wrong train and no mention of ours nor the company of trains we were supposed to get on.
Rhonda goes for a wander to speak to someone with less of a language barrier and we find out our trains run on platforms 1 and 2 and aren’t listed on the screens, you’re just supposed to know where they are…
Finally boarded we stow our luggage overhead and settle in for a lovely blast through the countryside, going at almost 110mph (~180kph), absolutely motoring! We arrived in Milton Keynes for a transfer to another train that runs directly to Liverpool, but we had about an hours wait because of the first delay of the day. No matter, we just milled about the station, enjoyed the surprisingly nice weather, and thought about hiring some of those electric scooters to make our own TT race haha.
We did have one more transfer at Stafford to get the final line to Liverpool and thankfully that section of the trip went exactly as planned… apart from this tiny little woman who mistook me for a famous Australian bloke from the telly (we’re still trying to figure it out but honestly anyone with long hair and a beard was probably the bet). I played along because this woman was being a bit relentless and professing her love for what I’m doing before Rhonda said to me “Come along darling we can’t miss our train” and I replied “Coming Mother” lol. Got on that last train and enjoyed the beautiful English countryside all the way to Liverpool.
I’m not really sure how I envisioned Liverpool but I think I imagined it to look and feel a lot more rough and tumble than it was, but it was an awesome place. All of us really enjoyed ourselves there, and everyone was really really lovely. We disembarked from the train station, got our bearings, called the ferry terminal to see if we could check our bags, flagged down a taxi and headed for the shoreline. After dropping off our bags we wandered along the promenade and took in the absolutely beautiful old buildings and unofficially started our Beatle’s tour after coming across their statue on the boardwalk. Thankfully all of us were feeling pretty hungry and thirsty and located a Wetherspoons for a couple of cheap pints and a decent feed.
With bellies full and thirsts satiated for now we wandered off down the road to check out The Cavern Hotel, home of the Beatle’s. Although the original hotel was demolished in 1973 for safety reasons (as it’s about 3 storeys underground and looks to be old overflow for the water in the city) it was rebuilt exactly the same with the original bricks, plus some added spaces for access. Over the two years they played there, they put on 292 shows, over 2 a week for those 2 years. That place is an awesome homage not just to them, but to anyone that ever came to play. There is so much cool memorabilia on all of the walls, and even some royal visits as well.
There was a young bloke plucking an electric acoustic up on stage who was sporting the shaggy hair and sideburns look and doing some really spot on covers, the dude had skill.
Every inch of wall in the main tunnel is covered in people’s names, every size and every colour sharpie mark you could imagine, some lipstick, some white out, even some paint in places. And being prepared for having to write anything whilst being away I packed some Sharpies and pens into my backpack and broke those out to add our own pieces of graffiti to those hallowed halls. It was a bit of a mission to even find space but eventually we all managed to find somewhere to scrawl something. We bought some merch, listened to a few more artists around the back at the other stage, and Ron and Rhonda got their boogie on with some pretty cute swing dancing under the coloured lights.
We’d stayed down there way longer than we intended to (but enjoyed every second regardless) and surfaced around 9:30pm, with the sun still in the sky (which has been one of the most mind and body boggling thing for this entire trip). We wanted to head to the Hot Water Comedy Club and check out some stand up as the joint is fairly famous for having good acts on, but by the time we got in the lineup the security guard said they were full 2 people ahead of us which was a huge bummer….
But no worries because right next door was The Flute! A fun and cheap little pub with a couple of pool tables out the back, perfect, we felt right at home. Yup, right down to the doubly bent pool cues and wonky tables lol. We stayed there until the wee hours of the morn playing away and drinking before boarding our ferry to the Isle of Man for the main event of the trip. We hadn’t booked any accommodation in Liverpool as our ferry left at 3am so we just powered through. Thankfully no issues getting onto the ferry, and it was smooth sailing the whole way. Although I have learned not to let Gaz block me from exiting wherever possible. I’d left to head downstairs to get some beers and by the time I got back he was asleep in the aisle row, beer on my tray table next to him, and my bag sitting on my seat. So I went and sat next to Keith hoping no one turned up for that assigned seat, which thankfully they didn’t and we could relax.
We rocked up to the Isle bright and early around 6am, but unable to get into our rooms until 2pm, so we chucked our bags into their storeroom and fell asleep in their library out back, absolutely ruined. Finally once we were able to head to our rooms we were able to crash for a few more hours a bit more comfortably and ready to tackle Race Day 1 tomorrow.
After a few hours kip in much more comfy beds we started walking up Loch Promenade from the Sefton Hotel and wandered up the hill towards the grandstands and pit lane but alas the hill was too big to take in one go so halfway way up we came across Douglas Snooker bar. Just as we were walking past the driveway the owner was opening the doors. “Hey mate, are you open?” Shouts Ron, “I can be” says old mate back and in we go for a private use of a really well set up and maintained pool hall which very quickly became our new local. A few hours of drinking and playing later we stumble out to tackle the rest of the hill and check out some final qualifying.
You definitely heard them before you saw them, the start finish straight is long enough to get into 6th gear, which is getting pretty close to 300kph, shrieking down the main drag of a sleepy little town 11 months of the year. A few more pints trackside and then a stumble back down to the hotel for a well deserved full sleep for a big first day tomorrow.
I’m writing this on the ferry over to Ireland at the moment and have been pretty slack with updates but am hoping to get a few more out soon and catch up to this point in the trip. I’m also going to see if anyone from the crew wants to write anything about their experiences on the Isle and watching the races.
- Herb
